One minute I was standing on the cracked earth of the weird in-between place, running from some unknown and decidedly malicious feeling, and the next I was standing on the platform in my parents’ ballroom. My body coalesced into the same spot I’d disappeared from, but time seemed to stand still. I felt a searing, burning pain on my spine and gasped at the sudden sting. It was like my expression of pain broke the seal of time, and everything began to move again.
I heard gasps from the crowd and the thudding of boots on stairs as my father quickly ascended the platform.
“Ellowyn, are you alright? Are you hurt?” he asked as he cupped my face in his hands, desperately searching for any sign of harm. His eyes were panicked, his hands shaking. I rested my hands on top of his and gave him, what I hoped, was a reassuring smile.
“I’m okay, just having a bit of trouble seeing after those beacons lit.” It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the full truth, and I didn’t have time to contemplate why I didn’t tell the full truth. I wasn’t sure if I was okay, I just had a vocal standoff with Fate and was chased through some magical portal by an unseen force.
What a weird day.
My father held my face for another beat before accepting my words. I felt the presence of the Priest of Fate before I felt them.
“We must finish the ceremony, lord, Fate requires it,” they said, though their voice was strained. My father dropped his hands from my face and stood, nodding at the priest before straightening his overcoat. He squeezed my shoulder once more before descending the stairs to stand with my family.
I snuck a quick glance at them and saw a mixture of concern and awe reflected in their gazes. My mother and father were exchanging hushed words, my mother’s gestures stiff and unyielding, and my father clenched his jaw in frustration. Peytor and Finian shot apprehensive looks my way and I returned a strained smile.
“I’m guessing that doesn’t happen for everyone?” I said weakly to the priest behind me.
“No,” was the only response they gave me.
“Figures,” I said under my breath.
The priest lightly grabbed both of my hands in their two gloved ones, titling my palms up to the ceiling again and my breath caught, stomach twisting, when I saw them. Aside from the dried blood, there was no other evidence of the cuts that began the Awakening Ritual in the first place. The priest hummed lightly while they continued their detailed inspection.
“Impossible,” they breathed reverently before dipping their head closer to mine, the headdress creaking as they moved. “You need to be careful, Child of Fate,” they whispered so only I could hear, “there has not been one with your power recorded in centuries. Many will seek to use you, or worse. Do all things in balance, Child. I’m certain Fate will guide you closely.”
I opened my mouth to question what they meant.
Were all things related to Fate this damn cryptic?
“Follow my lead, please,” they said as they dropped my hands just as quickly as they’d picked them up before walking toward the front of the stage.
“What is she, Priest?” The question was barked from the back of the room, and I knew, without even looking, that it was Lord d’Refan.
The priest turned their head to the back of the room, the guests falling silent once again at Lord d’Refan’s question.
“A Mage, Lord d’Refan. And a powerful one at that.” There was a rumble of chatter at their announcement of my power. “She is blessed equally by Solace and Kaos.”
“What does that mean?” This came from my father, and the priest held up a hand to silence the questions.
“Both Solace and Kaos heard Ellowyn’s call for power, and both have chosen to respond in equal parts. She will be able to wield both sides of her power in perfect balance.”
My eyebrows raised at their admission, and I wasn’t the only one. You could hear a pin drop in the ballroom. The silence was so loud it was almost deafening.
“Ellowyn, if you will turn toward me,” they asked, procuring a black velvet bag from inside their robes, and I heard a soft clink as whatever was inside knocked together at the movement. “We will now test for her affinity.”
The priest opened the bag and poured a series of crystals into their palm. They were all different sizes, shapes, and colors. Beautiful and entrancing at first glance, though the longer I studied the Essence of magic swirling within each crystal, the more it seemedangry.
Essence shouldn’t feel sentient.
I leaned closer to the priest’s palm again, noting that the writhing magic within the crystals reminded me of the magical storm I saw every time I had an unexpected visit from Fate. I finally tore my eyes from the crystals and looked at the priest.
“What am I supposed to do?” I whispered. I couldn’t be sure with the robes and face covering, but I was almost certain I saw the priest shake a bit with laughter. The moment passed and I was certain I imagined it.
“Tell me, which speak to you, Child?”
Speak to me?
“Uhm.” I chewed my lower lip as I looked at the crystals. “They, uh, they don’t?”
